Frame rate

Interlaced content should be deinterlaced before uploading. For example, 1080i60 content should be deinterlaced to 1080p30, going from 60 interlaced fields per second to 30 progressive frames per second.

Bitrate

Standard quality uploads

Type

Video Bitrate

Mono Audio Bitrate

Stereo Audio Bitrate

5.1 Audio Bitrate

2160p (4k)

35-45 Mbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

1440p (2k)

10 Mbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

1080p

8,000 kbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

720p

5,000 kbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

480p

2,500 kbps

64 kbps

128 kbps

196 kbps

360p

1,000 kbps

64 kbps

128 kbps

196 kbps

High quality uploads for creators with enterprise quality internet connections

Type

Video Bitrate

Mono Audio Bitrate

Stereo Audio Bitrate

5.1 Audio Bitrate

1080p

50,000 kbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

720p

30,000 kbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

480p

15,000 kbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

360p

5,000 kbps

128 kbps

384 kbps

512 kbps

Resolution and aspect ratio

YouTube uses 16:9 aspect ratio players. If you are uploading a non-16:9 file, it will be processed and displayed correctly as well, with pillar boxes (black bars on the left and right) or letter boxes (black bars at the top and bottom) provided by the player. If you want to fit the player perfectly, encode at these resolutions:

2160p: 3840x2160

1440p: 2560x1440

1080p: 1920x1080

720p: 1280x720

480p: 854x480

360p: 640x360

240p: 426x240

The YouTube player automatically adds black bars so that videos are displayed correctly without cropping or stretching, no matter the size of the video or the player.

For example, the player will automatically add pillarboxing to 4:3 videos in the new 16:9 widescreen player size. If the player is re-sized (i.e. when embedded on another website), the same process takes place so that 16:9 videos are letterboxed when the player is sized to 4:3. Similarly, anamorphic videos will be automatically letterboxed when shown in either 16:9 or 4:3 sized players. The player can only do this if the native aspect ratio of the video is maintained.

You can adjust the fit of your video in our player after uploading your video by using formatting tags.

If letterboxing is added to a video before it is uploaded (i.e. in the case of creating a 4:3 video from a 16:9 master), the widescreen player will add pillarbox bars too, resulting in black bars all around the video (windowboxing) and a bad viewing experience (see the diagram below).

How to do it

Upload a 16:9 video at its original aspect ratio (1280x720 recommended)

Video fills the YouTube widescreen 16x9 player. Nice job!

Upload a 4:3 video at its original aspect ratio (640x480 recommended)

Video is displayed in the widescreen player at the right size and ratio with letterbox bars. Looks pretty sweet!

How not to do it

Add letterbox bars to the top and bottom before uploading so that the video fits a 4:3 player

The YouTube player adds pillarbox bars left and right to the 4:3 video fit widescreen. Bars surround the video. Boo!